Victoria Mboko has said it is up to Serena Williams to decide when, or if, she wants to formally announce any possible return to professional tennis, after reports linked the 23-time Grand Slam singles champion with a potential doubles comeback next month.
Williams, 44, has not competed since her third-round defeat at the 2022 US Open, when she fell one title short of the all-time record of 24 major singles crowns. Since then, she has largely stayed away from competition, though speculation about a return intensified after media reports suggested she had sought a wildcard entry for doubles at Queen’s, where the grass-court season begins in London on June 8. A podcast hosted by former world number one Andy Roddick further fueled the rumors by saying Williams could pair with Canadian teenager Mboko.
Mboko, who advanced to the third round of the French Open, said she wanted to leave any announcement to Williams and allow the tennis icon to control the moment. She said that if Williams is ready to return, it should happen on her own terms and be revealed by her herself.
Williams previously said she was “evolving” away from tennis rather than “retiring,” but speculation resurfaced last year when she registered with tennis’s drug-testing body. She later denied being on the verge of a comeback, writing on social media that she was “NOT coming back,” and calling the rumor “crazy.”
The possibility of Williams returning has drawn strong reactions from current stars. Naomi Osaka said she would be entertained by a comeback and believed the first match would attract major attention, as Williams always does. Osaka also said both Serena and Venus Williams were her childhood role models.
Coco Gauff, the reigning French Open champion, said she would love the chance to play Serena for the first time. Gauff said one of her biggest regrets was never getting the opportunity to face the former world number one, and noted that if the rumors are true, tennis fans would soon know.
Williams’ older sister Venus returned to the tour after a 16-month break and has already played at the 2025 US Open and the Australian Open this year. Venus said the only thing that would have made her comeback better would have been Serena’s return as well.
Young American player Iva Jovic also reacted to the speculation, saying it would be incredible to see Serena on court again. Jovic said she grew up watching Williams dominate the sport and had never seen her play in person.
Any return by Serena Williams would be one of the biggest stories in tennis, given her legacy, global popularity and the long gap since her last match.
